In the first week of classes, I asked my students to list their goals for the class, then we discussed those goals in groups and finally combined them to make a list in each class.
Most of the goals were predictable, such as “improve our oral English”, “improve our pronunciation”, and “speak English fluently.” But a few goals apply beyond the classroom and into life itself.
“Be Active, Brave, and Confident” is a motto for all situations. “Express ourselves clearly” certainly will help in communication.
“Broaden our horizons” is a goal worth remembering.
“Think in English”—Think in any language—always helpful. “Improve our listening skills” — helpful in all of life.
“Make happy memories” — a valuable plan.
And, best of all, “Speak more wonderful sentences.”
May we all think first, and then speak — wonderful words, wonderful sentences, wonderful life.

I’ve asked my students to submit culture questions so that my presentations will be of interest to them. One of the best so far is, “What is the biggest difference between Chinese and American culture?”
Anyone who has lived in and/or visited both countries. please leave a comment. Thanks

I have a friend named Elaine who is known in her circles as a humorist.  My sisters and I attended one of her speeches and laughed until tears ran down our faces.  Elaine told me that she didn’t set out to be a humorist, but that when she spoke of her daily life, people laughed.

A few years ago, some new shoes became available.  They were athletic shoes and the heels had little springs in them–shock absorbers.  I wanted these shoes.  They were light weight and appeared to be comfortable, the perfect thing for a lot of walking.  The first store didn’t have them in my size and suggested I go to the outlet mall.  I did find them at the outlet mall, but the only color was bright yellow.  I bought them and brought them home with the idea of thinking it over.   I took the shoes to Elaine and showed them to her.  We talked for some time about the pros and cons of those shoes.  Finally she said, “The thing is, I would probably wear those shoes.”  Eventually I took the shoes back to the store, but I stored away Elaine’s comment.

I thought of Elaine a few days ago as I was pausing in my ascent to the fifth floor of the teaching building.  I saw several students wearing bright yellow shoes.  “Must contact Elaine,” I thought and proceed to class.  A student came to me with a request, and I asked her English name.  “Elaine” she said.   “Must contact my friend,” I thought, and proceeded with class.

At the break in class, I went to the restroom, but it was crowded, so I decided to wait for the longer break between classes.  At that time I went to the restroom and it was still crowded.  I went down one floor, checked that restroom.  Still crowded, so I waited in line.  The process in a Chinese restroom is to wait in front of a particular stall until it becomes available, so that is what I did.  I went into the stall and felt water dripping from the ceiling.  Not an option to leave that stall and wait for another.  I turned around to avoid the ceiling drip and prepared to squat facing the pipe instead of the door.  I squatted and felt water spraying in my face.  The pipe that holds the flush handle was leaking at an alarming rate.  But no stopping now–I turned my face away, only to feel more water from above.

I was upset until I pictured Elaine bouncing around on stage wearing bright yellow shoes telling this story. Those little shock absorbers would help in the squat.  Elaine would use the story not to discuss plumbing problems, but to illustrate grand ideas: rushing water, living water, abundant life.  Thanks, Elaine.

Our Daughter sent this photo of “a few days” harvest from my garden at home. For the first time in my life, my garden was quite prolific, and I was not there to eat it. But this is life, we eat from the gardens others have planted; we rest in the shelters others have built; we work for a purpose greater than ourselves. What joy!

We have five school days off to celebrate October 1, National Day. The word was seven days, but because we have to use next weekend to make up some of the classes, it is really only five days. October 1 was the day Mao declared the new nation — People’s Republic of China. The year? I keep thinking 1949, but it could have been 1950. I could look it up, and so could you, dear reader.
For the Chinese, a holiday means lots of fireworks, but not necessarily days off work. The banks for example, were open. The market proceeded as usual.
For myself, I spent the day in bed, not to luxuriate, but to recover from a nasty head cold. I’m not over it yet, though it has descended to my chest. In the past two years, I can’t remember having anything like it. I guess I’m meeting a virus new to me. In the month we’ve all been here, we’ve taken turns being sick, including the young man upstairs. At all times, one of us has been “down.”
Our good news is that some new teachers are coming this week and next, so we should have just slightly lighter teaching loads. Let us hope that these two adjust without meeting that virus.
It’s considerably cooler the last few days and it has been continually raining. The air is clean now outside, and we have gotten an air purifier for the inside. I was well enough today to do the week’s laundry—we’ll see how long it takes to dry, hanging there on the balcony.
At home, I do appreciate my clothes dryer, but here I have to admit there is something wonderful about that fresh air smell the clothes have when they’ve been hanging outside. It reminds me of my childhood.

Here’s the exterior door to our apartment.  Note that we are “Foreign Experts.”  That is what the words above the door say in English.    We’re on the first floor, to the left of this door.  You can see some pillows airing on the balcony.  This green door is made of iron bars and is locked by an electronic magnet.  At first I felt like I was in a cage, since all the windows are barred also.  I wondered, in a fire or earthquake, when the power is out, how will we escape?  That’s the old Girl Scout training again, always be prepared. Dear Husband  bought a wrench to use in case of emergency, to loosen the bolts that hold the iron bars in place.  Apparently, there are no emergencies here.

A few days ago, the power was out, and that is when I learned that the magnet in the lock isn’t a magnet when the power is off.  So, no worries, if the power is off, just push that iron door open.  What’s all that stuff on the ground?   Stuff that was on the balcony.  We put it out in hopes it would disappear, and some of it has, but the old interior door remains.    Perhaps we could make a picnic table from it?